A look at what to do and see when spending a fall weekend in and around Dallas, Texas.
As the weather starts to cool off during the fall months it’s the perfect time to visit the Dallas, Texas area. We recently spent a weekend in Dallas experiencing Autumn at the Arboretum, taking in a Seattle Mariners versus Texas Rangers baseball game, watching the Longhorn Cattle Drive, exploring the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and enjoying the city.
If you are looking to spend a fall weekend in the Dallas area, here’s a list of some of the best things to do.
Autumn at the Arboretum
The annual Autumn at the Arboretum is a sight to see at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden with their whimsical displays of pumpkins including their Instagramable pumpkin houses. They bring in over 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squashes, and 150,000 beautiful fall-blooming plants to decorate the gardens.
In 2024, the Pumpkin Village will feature the theme “Texas Town,” taking you on a journey through Texas history.
State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is an annual fair held in Dallas at historic Fair Park with the beloved mascot, Big Tex, a fifty-five-foot-tall cowboy. The fair usually begins on the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later.
The State Fair of Texas is known for its amazing food and each year hosts the State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Awards to find the best savory and sweet dish. Other things to do include shows, farm attractions, exhibits, live performances, and creative arts sessions along with, of course, fair rides.
Catch a Professional Sport Game
During the fall, several Dallas area professional sports teams play, including the Texas Rangers (baseball), the Dallas Cowboys (football), the Dallas Stars (hockey), and the Dallas Mavericks (basketball). If you want to catch a game, check their schedules because some of the teams’ seasons are wrapping up in the fall while others are just starting.
Pumpkin Nights
At Howell Farms in Arlington from late September through October is Pumpkin Nights. Pumpkin Nights is an amazing family-friendly nighttime experience. With carved pumpkins lighting a half-mile trail that winds through a variety of themed areas including the Forbidden City, a Pirate’s Cove, and others. The trail is full of photo opportunities and both young kids and tween/teens will enjoy this experience.
The Village at the start/end of the trail has a variety of food and games along with nightly fire dancing. Pumpkin Nights is extremely popular so you must pre-purchase your timed entry tickets online ahead of time. Parking onsite is an extra charge.
Dining Outside
With the weather starting to cool off from summer, fall is the perfect time to dine al fresco. Dallas has everything from dog-friendly patios to fancy rooftop bars to casual picnic-style options. The choices are endless.
Longhorn Cattle Drive in Ft. Worth
The Forth Worth herd, made up of longhorn cattle, takes part in a twice-daily Cattle Drive at the Fort Worth Stockyards. This walk through the stockyards is a way to honor the town’s 173-year-old history and offer guests a glimpse at the American West. The Fort Worth Stockyards is designated as a National Historic District.
The best place to view the cattle drive is from the sidewalks in front of the Livestock Exchange Building on East Exchange Ave. Currently, the cattle drive happens daily at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm weather permitting.
If you would like to see the herd before or after the cattle drives the steers are in their pens behind the Livestock Exchange Building or you can see them at the Observation Deck just east of the Livestock Exchange Building. Drovers are also available before each cattle drive for photo ops and questions.
In addition to the cattle drive, Fort Worth is home to honky-tonk eateries, Western-style saloons, the world’s longest-running year-round rodeo, and beautifully restored barns turned restaurants/shopping along Mule Alley.
